Brain Bulletin #87 - This Summer Brain Food Treat is Easy to Forget

in Brain Bulletin

Some foods are fun to eat. It's even better when they're good for your brain.

Food has the power to heal your brain. The chemical components in what you eat have powerful effects on the way your mind works.

My favorite summer brain food treat is watermelon. They are a virtual warehouse of nutrients essential for a healthy brain and body.

Mark Twain said this about watermelon,"It is chief of this world's luxuries.....When one has tasted it, he knows what Angels eat."

He was right.

Children eat a lot of watermelon. Adults, not so much......

Here are the surprising benefits of watermelon:

  • high in vitamin B6 which helps brain function.
  • contains the amino acids arginine and citrulline which help maintain your arteries, blood flow, and cardiovascular function.
  • a good source of potassium which helps muscle and nerve function.
  • has the highest concentration of lycopene (a powerful antioxidant) of any fresh fruit or vegetable.
  • contains anti-inflammatory properties.
  • enhances immunity.
  • hydrates you and your brain.
  • helps regulate brain chemicals.
  • normalizes sleep patterns.
  • alleviates stress and depression.
  • increases your 'feel good factor'.
  • improves your skin.
  • filling and low in calories...hmmmm.
  • the B6, B1, magnesium, and potassium combine to boost your energy.
  • Watermelon is a certified heart healthy food by the American Heart Association. And, what's good for your heart is good for your brain.

.....and the list could go on.

And, if that's not enough:

"For three centimes I can eat, drink, and wash my face, all by the means of one of those slices of water-melon you display there on a little table."
Anatole France, 'The Crime of Sylvestre Bonnard' (1881)

Watermelon can be put in salad, smoothies, or you can have it as a quick snack.

Or, you could purée watermelon, cantaloupe and kiwi together. Swirl in a little plain yogurt and serve as refreshing cold soup.

Remember, what you eat literally becomes you. You have a choice in what your are made of.

Something else for your summer brain: Best Summer Brain Smoothie

And.... 7 Reasons Why Your Brain Loves Summer

Congratulations on learning something about your brain today. The Brain Bulletin is committed to help to do just that. If you missed any Brain Bulletins you can find them in the Brain Bulletin Archive: Brain Bulletin Archive

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My favorite book this week was "The Charisma Myth" by Olivia Fox Cabane. She hit it out of the park...loved it.

It's summer in Vancouver. My brain is loving it. I have been doing lots of cycling and I have my first 3 hikes planned. Lots of yard work, too. Being outside in nature is good for the brain. Dials down the stress response.

Presentation highlights included Sonrise Church, BC Hydro, Delta DTAC, BC Homeschool Conference, and Metro Vancouver.

In the next few weeks, I speak to Urban Systems, BC Executive Forum, and I will conduct four public Triple Your Reading Speed and study skills sessions. In August, I will be speaking in Sweden and San Francisco. The "Brain Guy in Japan Tour 3.0" is now all set for October - Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo.